DIY: Create Robots with Linux

byVivek GiteonMarch 26, 2008

ASIMO is a humanoid robot manufactured by Honda which is quite high tech and expensive gadget. You can hired out it for US $166,000 per year. However, as usual Linux provides you an opportunity to build your own robot. Linux-based robots are tricky to create, but Michael Surran's Robotics class found out it can be done:

Robots have been a passion of mine since I was a child, so imagine my excitement when I was given the opportunity to add a robotics class to our high school's computer curriculum! We recently celebrated our second year of offering robotics at Greater Houlton Christian Academy (GHCA), the school where I teach. During this time, we've produced three different robots, each based on a PC running Linux. We work with a tight budget, so we have to be creative in our design, use of materials and tools. This results in robots that any do-it-yourself hobbyist can build.

Though, this article doesn't give step-by-step instructions on how to build a DIY robot. It proivdes some getting started hints. Linux and robotics are a perfect combination!